Kapampangan designer Marlon C. Tuazon is no stranger to dressing up celebrities. His creations have frequently graced the stages of shows like ASAP, worn by stars such as Zsa Zsa Padilla, Sarah Geronimo, and many more.
Despite being a designer of choice for many stars, Marlon was overjoyed when asked to join the roster of top designers for Pops Fernandez’s wardrobe in the recently concluded Always & Forever concert, alongside none other than Martin Nievera, the Concert King.
He said, ‘It is an incredible honor to be in the same league as notable contemporary fashion designers such as Randy Ortiz, Rhett Eala, Maxie Cinco, and Michael Leyva.'”
“I have been a huge fan of Ms. Pops Fernandez since the ‘80s. She has always been on my personal bucket list of OPM icons I wish to dress,” Marlon said.
He said it is an incredible honor to be in the same league as notable contemporary fashion designers such as Randy Ortiz, Rhett Eala, Maxie Cinco, and Michael Leyva.”
For Always & Forever, Marlon was tasked with designing a customized dual-outfit that could transform in under a minute, as Ms. Fernandez shifted from an upbeat disco medley to one of her iconic English OPM ballad, ‘Little Star.’
Marlon explains, ‘The challenge was that the costume change had to happen on stage, in front of the audience, without them noticing, with only a brief spiel to cover it. We did two fittings at her home, followed by two more during dress rehearsals on the concert day. The energy was absolutely amazing!”
The iconic outfit befitting the Concert Queen
Marlon describes what he created for Concert Queen Pops Fernandez: “The base of the costume is a sparkly, above-the-knee one-piece dress, designed for maximum mobility to suit the dance-heavy disco medley. The real magic happens when she slips into the multi-layered ruffled sleeves with a train at the back, adding flair and drama to match the nostalgic love song about chasing your dreams and becoming your own person against all odds.”
“I wanted her to look like a classic ’80s Barbie doll, bringing out the emotion of the wide-eyed little girl inside her. The spring green shade symbolizes spiritual abundance, innocence, hope, and optimism—the qualities every child brings into the world. I’m still in awe of how everything turned out so seamlessly.”
The concert may have concluded, but the excitement for Marlon hasn’t subsided, and the reality of the accomplishment has yet to fully sink in.”
Though the spotlight has dimmed, the memories of this iconic collaboration will continue to sparkle—much like the unforgettable designs that helped the Concert Queen shine even brighter – Always & Forever!
